'Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)'
Doi
Abstract
A rapid prototyping methodology for digital controllers
is presented in this paper. Its main application is in
the development, debugging, and test of microgrid inverter
controllers. To fulfill the application requirements, these systems
are characterized by complex multilayer architectures, extending
from PWM and current control loops up to global optimization
and high level communication functions. The complexity and
the wide variability of the different layer implementations make
digital control mandatory. However, developing so complex digital
controllers on conventional hardware platforms, like DSPs or
even FPGAs, is not the most practical choice. The paper shows
how multi-platform control devices, where software configurable
DSP functions and programmable logic circuits are efficiently
combined, represent the optimal solution for this field of application.
Furthermore, the paper proposes hardware-in-theloop
real-time simulation as an effective means of developing
and debugging complex hardware and software co-designed
controllers. A case study is presented and used to illustrate
the different design and test phases, from initial concept and
numerical simulation to final experimental verification